Photos: Great sports dynasties

Kevin Liles, US Presswire

With his unprecendented achievement (no NASCAR driver has even won four consecutive season titles), Johnson, only 35, is now two away from tying Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for career championships. Earnhardt had only won two such titles at 35, and Petty four.

With his unprecendented achievement (no NASCAR driver has even won four consecutive season titles), Johnson, only 35, is now two away from tying Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for career championships. Earnhardt had only won two such titles at 35, and Petty four. (Kevin Liles, US Presswire)

Well past the beginning of the 21st century, the most renowned Johnson in auto racing circles was Junior Johnson, who had piled up 50 NASCAR wins before retiring in 1966 and was further immortalized in the Bruce Springsteen song Cadillac Ranch ("Junior Johnson runnin' through the woods of Caroline"). However, by winning his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship Sunday in Homestead, Jimmie Johnson clearly has wrested the title away. Here's a look at some of the other greatest dynasties in sports history: